Page 57 of The Time Of Kings

“Oh no!” I cried the moment I saw Amelia running down the road with none other than a determined Vampire hot on her heels and having the advantage of being on horseback. I found myself taking quick steps to follow, worried for her despite knowing that Lucius could have never hurt her.

However, I didn’t get far, as Draven wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“And where do you think you are going?”

“I am going to help that poor girl!” I argued, trying in vain to squirm out of his hold.

“He will not harm her,” he assured me, making me wonder if he knew too who Amelia was to his second in command?

I knew that he wouldn’t have been so blasé about it had he known that was actually our daughter currently trying to outrun the determined Vampire.

“How do you know that!?” I shouted, despite knowing that he wouldn’t. However, it would have looked odd had I not, seeing as I wasn’t supposed to know either of them.

“It is complicated,” he admitted, despite knowing he was unable to explain why.

“It looks more like kidnapping to me.” I huffed as Lucius leaned to one side and easily plucked our Fae off the ground as easily as if she weighted nothing at all.

After this I was forced to watch as he rode off with her in his arms, taking her to the Gods of Fate only knew where. Well, as long as it wasn’t too far, or we were all royally buggered!

“Yes, well not all is as it seems,” Draven told me.

“Like when you had me kidnapped?” I snapped, turning to face him after he dropped his tight hold on me. He was clearly assured that I couldn’t outrun a horse.

I crossed my arms over my chest, the stunning peach dress catching the sunlight with its clustered crystals on the bodice.

“You fared well enough seeing as you escaped,” he replied dryly.

“I didn’t escape you,” I pointed out, making him take a quick step into me, before he growled his answer.

“And nor will you.”

I knew I was pushing it here, so instead of pissing him off any further, I got up on my tip toes and told him in a cocky tone,

“Yes, well maybe after last night, I no longer want to.”

His eyes flashed purple at that, before he hooked a hand at the back of my neck and kissed me. His free hand found itself at my waist after he banded an arm around me, tugging me closer still.

“Gods, what is it you do to me, woman?!” he hissed passionately.

“You keep asking me that, My Lord, but I am yet to form an answer that would make sense enough for you to want to marry a commoner after only a day.”

He frowned down at me and snapped,

“I couldn’t give a fuck for your status, for you will be mine regardless. Do you understand?” Again, he was on edge, a place I seemingly kept putting him on.

“I didn’t say that your insanity was unwelcome… on the contrary, your madness is welcome, if it means keeping me in your bed,” I teased, making him instantly relax enough that he threw his head back and laughed.

“Then we will feed each other’s madness, for you will forever find yourself in my bed from this point on.”

I slipped from his arms and started to walk away. Looking over my shoulder, I said,

“Promises, promises, My Lord.”

He smirked and started to stalk me. Something that had me reacting as I usually did, which meant my flight response kicked into overdrive.

So, I playfully ran from him.

However, unlike the halls of Afterlife that held no danger to me, it seemed here I was unfamiliar enough that running from him proved not to be wise. As clearly, I wasn’t concentrating. Not on where my feet were taking me, and not with how close to the edge I had become. Draven’s panicked eyes weren’t my only warning as he shouted,

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